Can adults learn bassoon?

Many people assume the bassoon is an instrument you have to start at a young age, but this is not necessarily true. While the bassoon is often considered one of the more complex woodwind instruments, adults can learn it successfully, especially if they already have some musical experience.

One of the reasons the bassoon has this reputation is the fingering system, which is more complicated than most other woodwind instruments. It also uses a double reed, which requires more control to produce a steady tone. In addition, the size and weight of the instrument can make it feel less comfortable at first, particularly for players who are used to smaller instruments such as clarinet or flute.

However, adult learners often have advantages that younger students do not. Reading music, understanding rhythm, and having previous experience on another instrument can make the learning process much easier. Many adult players take up the bassoon later in life in order to join amateur orchestras, wind bands, or chamber groups.

In recent years, instrument makers have also started developing new designs to make the bassoon more accessible. One example is the Densoon assisted fingering bassoon, which keeps the traditional bassoon sound but uses an assisted key system that reduces the effort needed to play and makes the fingering feel more intuitive. This can be particularly helpful for adult learners, multi-instrumentalists, or players returning to music after a long break.

At Woodwind London, the Densoon assisted fingering bassoon is available for play test at our Muswell Hill workshop, and we are always happy to advise adult players who are thinking about learning the bassoon for the first time.